The A-List

Trumpet Ensemble, Soloist Qualify for National Competition

The musicians will compete at the annual competition at Messiah College in Pennsylvania.

Six Texas Tech University trumpeters are headed to a national contest to blow away the competition.

An ensemble of five students from the School of Music is going to Messiah College March 19-21 for the National Trumpet Competition. Junior Andrew Pacheco, junior Benjamin Post, freshman Pierce Ellison, junior Joshua Dolney and sophomore Elisabeth Wiseman will travel to Messiah, Pennsylvania, for the competition. A soloist, senior Lucas Meade, also qualified.

“The thing that amazes me most about these students is their efforts to enter this competition were entirely volunteer,” said assistant professor Andrew Stetson, who coached the ensemble. “They found time to contribute outside of their demanding degree work. The students were always full of energy and united by their excitement for the art and desire to improve."

The group submitted a video performance in December, which was rated by at least three judges. Thirty ensembles in the 4-6 member category will compete in the semifinals on March 19, then judges will rank the top ensembles, who will perform again in the finals on March 21.